BRIDGE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 104, 30 October 1939, Page 14

BRIDGE

AN EXTRAORDINARY TRUMP

SITUATION

Specially Written for "The Post" by 1 "Approach Bid."

Here is a most interesting hand, which was played locally in a rubber bridge game. The trump situation was unique, and the declarer took full advantage of the possibilities of a crossruff game". 4 J. 10.9. 9 A.Q.8.7.6. 4 - North. ~j 4 8;(i.5.4.3.2. if K.J.10.5. S # 9.4. 10.9.8.5. £ W + K.J. X K.J.10.8.5, I South. I 9.7.6. + A.K.Q.7. i 3.2. 4. A.Q.7.4.3. .■.■*, Qf South dealer; East-West vulnerable. The. bidding :—'.-.■•■■■-.'■ South. West. North. East. 1 Pnsa . 1 ff Pass 1 A Pass 2 ▲ Pass ,*■♦ ■; West led the Jack of clubs, a low card was played from dummy, and ths trick was won by South with the Queen. A small heart was led and the.Queen finessed; The two of diamonds was then led. East played the Jack and South finessed his Queen. With both finesses successfully taken, South could see a very pretty rtrffing game ahead. He played his Ace of diamonds and then led a club to dummy's Ace, led the small club, and ruffed ■ with his seven of spades. A small heart to dummy's Ace left this position:— .. ■ . - j.10.9. ff 8.7.6. ▲ . *"N^th. I ♦ 8-6.5.4.3.2. «• K.J. 12 S V " > 10.9. £ £ ♦— v A K'lo- j South. I & • ▲ A.K.Q. • ▲ 7.4.8. •■ « • ■ •' -■. ♦"~*~ > ' ' ' '' A complete cross-ruff was now established and East's six trumps fell helplessly as the losing hearts and diamonds were ruffed out by North-South with their high trumps. The hand was played throughout without a single lead of trumps, North-South making seven trump tricks by means of ruffs, and thirteen tricks in all. qOIJNTING THE HAND.. The following hand provides an interesting lesson in counting the distribution of the hand according to inferences drawn from the bidding:— ▲ Q. 6.5 ,-; * 5- 4- .•• . . ▲ K.J.7.4. jff A.Q.6.3. ▲ 10.2. ,- —North. !♦ A-4'*-S X.8.7. 5 S» 3-2' I A.Q.8.5. % «]♦ 10-6.3.2. X K.J.9.5. South. J A 10.5.4.2. 4(k K.J.9.8.7. A.Q.J.10.9.6. ♦ ■».' ' ■ *T- ■ Soutii, dealer. North-South' vulnerable. The bidding:— South. West. . North. Ka*t- . t| Pass ..: t A e&ss a ▲ Pass ■ :i 4 I'ass 4 m Pass Pass Pass ' West led the ten of spades, obviously from a short suit. East, when the dummy hand was tabled, carefully reviewed, the bidding, and reasoned out the position as follows: If West's ten is a singleton, South must hold six spades. This is very unlikely, as, when supported by his partner in spades, he called game in hearts in spite of the fact that his partner had not supported the heart suit. Also, Souths opening bid having been made in hearts, the heart suit must be longer than the .spade suit. West's lead, therefore, must have been from a dqubleton. 3Sjat being so, East placed him with either X.x.x., or A.x. in trumps in order to justify the short suit leadu • '', . East, having worked out the situation, realised that he must refuse to win the first trick, and wait for a Second lead of spades from his partner, when he could return a third spade for the indicated ruff. He ducked the first spade trick, therefore, and South won with the Jack. The Ace of hearts was led immediately. and , followed by the Queen. West won this trick and led the two of spades. East won the trick and returned a spade, which West j ruffed with his remaining trump and then played the Ace of diamonds for the setting trick. ' • "..; If East had won /the first trick, the contract could not have been defeated, but he realised that West would lead his second spade at the first opportunity', and so give him the lead, thus ensuring the lead of a third spade for the indicated ruff.